home improvement tips

Options In Hardwood Floor Finishes On Pre-finished Floors The finishes for hardwood flooring which are possible in factory flooring are considered by many to be not only attractive but practical as well. Hardwood from the factory is stained and then sealed with a protective finish. This flooring is then delivered in a state that is […]

Managing Your Money during Building or Remodeling Allowances are a critical part of managing your money during a home building or remodeling project. Homeowners often get sort of hung up by allowances because they don’t really understand what they are and how they work. I will attempt to clarify how allowances are used in home […]

A Schedule of Values is the Only Way to Pay On all renovation, home improvement or house building projects, there is only one correct way to pay your contractor or builder. Use a Schedule of Values. Money is the primary way for a homeowner to stay in control of a project and the Schedule of […]

Door Questions-What the Supplier will Ask You! You will be asked some door questions once you start actually shopping. The salesperson needs specific door information to steer you in the right direction. Let me tell you a quick story. I sent one of my clients off to shop for doors. She’s a smart woman, an […]

A Must Have Clause in all of Your Home Improvement Contracts For any home improvement project, an important clause to include in the contract is “Owner needs at least 24 hours to review all invoices.” In addition to the written contract, be sure to verbally discuss this with any contractors you hire. Tell them-face to […]

Make sure to Seal All the Connections in your Flex Ductwork Some of the connections to pay attention to are: the pressure box, registers, collars and boots. Connections at the junction box should be sealed with a heavy layer of mastic. Mastic should be applied with a paintbrush around the entire perimeter of the collar […]

Relationships Count in Home Improvement Projects The most essential rule of construction is this: good relationships make a good building experience. A good relationship with your contractor means more than just a few quick meetings – there must be clear, on-going communication and trust on all sides. Likewise, your contractor should have solid relationships with […]

A building or home improvement project that goes from beginning to end without a single hitch is a rarity. In almost any project there will be periods when things move along swiftly and smoothly and times when holdups and snags upset the flow of the schedule – and disturb your peace of mind. Stops, starts […]